This is genuinely one of the best books I've read in a long time. There wasn't an aspect I didn't enjoy—I thought the pacing was smart, the plot was engaging, the food descriptions were wonderful, and I immediately fell in love with the characters. I'm truly sad that I can't be friends with Bisma and Danyal in real life. I could have read an additional 400 pages about these characters and what happens next!

I wanted to enjoy this book but it kept falling short for me. The writing doesn’t flow like I would hope it would. It was very choppy. The culture was nice to see, but sometimes there wasn’t a lot of explanation. I saw myself getting lost in traditions or says without explanation. Also what was present seemed very stereotypical and present such a poor light into the Muslim community.

I didn’t enjoy the story and I kept hoping it would turnaround, but the dialogue that was used felt cheap and made me disconnect with the characters. I didn’t like the way that each person was depicted. I really wanted to like this story but I just think this book wasn’t for me.

I am torn on how to rate this book.

I am not Muslim, so I cannot speak to the representation of that in this book. I have, however, read other reviews by people of that culture who see big problems with how it's portrayed. So I would encourage people to read those reviews.

This book was very crass and full of, frankly, unnecessary language. I can turn a blind eye to a curse word here or there, but this book is saturated with it. If it was a movie, it would be rated R based on language alone.

Also, Danyal (the main character) was stupid. I mean, I get that he's not supposed to be great in school. And that's fine. But to get to be 19 years old and not know the phrase "break a leg" means good luck, not know that helium (not argon or hydrogen) is what gives you a high voice when inhaled, thinking a book said "lions" instead of "loins?" I mean, those felt like very childish things. It made me think of him as an elementary school aged kid instead of a legal adult. There's a way to make a character charmingly less smart than others, but this just made him seem straight up stupid and unlikable.

That being said, I think the story and the conversation presented in this book are very important. People need to read about these things and talk about these things and ponder them.

"History is told by the victors" is a HUGE conversation in this book. Whitewashed history is a problem. Holding people (Winston Churchill is the example in this book) up like heroes while sweeping their terrible decisions under a rug is a problem. This book has given me the desire to learn more about actual history, not just the pretty, neatly packaged kind most of us are fed.

I just wish the author had done it in a...classier way? Because while I want my children to read books that discuss these topics as they get older, I sure don't want them reading books that drop f-bombs multiple times on each page.

Danyal Jilanli is a pretty boy and underachiever who dreams of opening his own restaurant and marrying his best friends’s beautiful twin sister. When he is entered into his school’s Renaissance Man competition, Danyal enlists the help of Bisma, a failed arranged marriage prospect, to prove himself to his family and crush that he’s ~more than just a pretty face~⁣
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I enjoyed Danyal as a main character. He’s goofy and doesn’t take anything too seriously. He’s consistently called dumb and incompetent by everyone around him, but he was a line cook at a rather prestigious restaurant, clearly proving he was determined to chase his dreams. I loved Bisma as a love interest. She was kind, thoughtful, complex, and big old nerd.⁣
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My favorite part was Danyal’s Renaissance Man presentation where he goes for the jugular on Winston Churchill despite everyone telling him to just write a paper praising the man. Instead, he opts to give an honest portrait of Churchill as a tool of British colonialism and it’s negative effects on India and Pakistan. Let’s go!!!!⁣
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This book struggles to find its footing until about 40% in. The plot waffles around and seems unsure where to go. We’re told all about Danyal’s feelings but never really shown how much he’s grown to care for Bisma. I love that this is #ownvoices about a Pakistani Muslim boy, but a couple own voice reviewers on Goodreads wrote about their concern with how Masood portrayed Islam and the purposes of arranged marriages - remember it’s always good to read own voice reviews!⁣
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In the past, one character is non-consensually filmed during sex, and the book does not handle it well. I understand conservative Muslim communities would struggle with this, but as the book is intended for a teen audience it’s disheartening to read so much slut-shaming. Danyal is adamant it doesn’t matter, but that’s not enough. What happened was a crime, and the book needs to pushback more against any other thought.⁣

I'm usually not a huge fan of YA novels, but I loved this one. It had a fun, rom-com feel to it. I loved watching the friendship develop between Danyal and Bisma. I loved their banter and the slow turn from friendship into romantic feelings. I highly recommend this book!

To start off, I am gonna say that I am definitely going to be purchasing this book for my library (probably multiple copies) because it is just so good.

This book follows Danyal a guy who has always been seen as someone with nothing more to offer than his pretty face. Growing up Indian and from a Muslim family there are expectations that they have for their boys- incredibly smart, driven, and going to college. All of which Danyal does NOT identify as. He feels that he is always disappointing his father by not being the brightest and wanting to go to culinary school.

This book is a love story from the boys perspective- think of the traditional geek girl meets jock scenario but you are instead in the jocks point of view. Add on top of that, he shows true vulnerability and emotions that are not often portrayed in male characters.

I know for a fact that my diverse school (with a magnet academy population) would devour this book just as I did. This book has so many quotable lines, and great moral messages! I learned many things I would have never known about Winston Churchill and food. It was a quick and fun read- I look forward to seeing what this author has to follow up with this fabulous first novel!

More than Just a Pretty Face ​by Syed M. Masood will be out in August of 2020!

“They say the devil is in the details, and I’ve always been taught to avoid tangling with the devil whenever possible. In a way, living carefree is the most Muslim thing you can do.”
Honestly, I’m a little conflicted about this book.
On one hand, More Than Just a Pretty Face was a hilarious rom com with a desi twist. Danyal is great; he’s witty, charming, and confident in what he wants. Though his family is traditional, he has made peace with the fact that his father won’t accept his ambitions. He’s an amazing chef (who cooks daal and creme brulee with equal competence), fully acknowledges his flaws, and an overall sweet person. He’s wise, empathetic, and hardworking when he wants to be. His characters develops through the story, in exactly the ways you would expect from this synopsis: what he always wanted was not actually right for him etc.
Truth be told, I came here for the culture, and I got it. From getting thrashed by chappal to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai references, this book was absolutely iconic.
However, the story packs in A LOT more than this. We delve into the arranged marriage structure, which is apparently being pushed on seniors in high school, and the glaring issues that come with it. We also get to follow along Danyal’s project for Renaissance Man, and then hear his entire speech at the end. This is a whole subplot involving history, racism, and colonialism. In fact, there is a point where this exchange between Danyal and his history teacher goes down:
“The history of your country, Mr. Jilani. You were born in India, correct?”
“San Diego, actually.”
Tippett sighed. “Yes, but your parents were born in India, were they not?”
I shook my head. “Pakistan.”
“Those are very nearly the same thing.”
I guess I could say that I’m lucky enough to have grown up in a place where no one makes such awkward racial assumptions, but I literally live in the same city as Danyal. Yes, I’ve been on day trips to Lake Elizabeth just like Danyal and Bisma, and I can take the BART to San Francisco just like he does. Somehow, the subplot of history hiding the horrors of colonialism did not sit well with me because every single history teacher I’ve ever had has gone out of their way to show both sides of the story. Never have I ever had to worry about failing history because I wrote about a lesser-known aspect of it. History,, is history?? As long as your paper is factually accurate and well-written, your teacher won’t fail you just because your opinion differs from their own (unless they’re a horrible human being).
We also get to hear a lot about being Muslim, and more generally, the struggles of balancing a somewhat antiquated culture with being American. Danyal finds himself stuck between his friend Sohrahb, who is becoming increasingly obsessed with Islam, and his friend Intezar, who believes that the traditional rules need not be applied so strictly. Danyal’s struggles with these ideas, and where he finds himself on the spectrum, make up a hefty subplot as well.
Overall, More Thank Just a Pretty Face was a sweet story, with a likable and fresh protagonist. However, the heavy subplots may diminish the glamour of the book if you are not familiar with these subjects. If you, like me, have given significant thought to being a second-generation immigrant, the boundaries of religion, and the truth about colonialism, you will be able to coast through this book. If these topics are difficult for you, you may find this book more somber than it was intended to be.

YES blatantly cocky boy rights! Fun stuff, love the muslim representation and I love how it’s ownvoices which makes everything better.

This book is a Muslim YA romcom OWN voice written by a Muslim male.  Woah, right? And the actual story, sigh (blush) I enjoyed it, and part of me is disappointed in myself for how much I enjoyed it.  Most of the characters are Muslim and all over the spectrum in their religiosity so to speak, there are a lot of jokes at the expense of tenants in Islam and trivializing of certain concepts which really isn't something to celebrate, but it reads real and there is a lot of Islam that is front and center and deep and though provoking. For most non Muslim readers, I'm sure 15 or 16 and up would be fine with the content and 353 page length, but as a former Islamic School Librarian, I'd have to reserve recommendations to college age.  The protagonist is 19, there is talk of sex, but not crass, the main female character has a past that includes a sex tape, and there is a lot of language, but its also really funny and really relatable and really sweet and takes place in high school.

SYNOPSIS:

Danyal is a pretty face, but he isn't very bright.  He goes to an elite private school though somehow, and while he is admittedly dingy, he is also very kind, innocent and generous.  He was held back at some point in school and is 19 as a senior in high school.  He works in a French restaurant and dreams of being a chef.  He has no desire to go to college and as the only son of Pakistani immigrants, they are not thrilled with their son't future plans.  Danyal is pretty chill about it though and his mom wants to arrange his marriage, and he is willing, although he is crazy in love with his friend's twin sister.  He is religious and hasn't really broken any of the Islamic relationship rules, he prays fajr, and just kinda floats through life doing the best he can and forgiving himself and others when they mess up.  

When his mom arranges a meeting with Bisma he is willing to get to know if they are a match.  She however, fully discloses her past to him when they head out for coffee, which involves her rebelling, once a few years earlier, against her father and going to a party, further rebelling and getting drunk and then making the poor and regrettable choice to sleep with someone.  To make matters worse, the event was video taped and spread around the community forcing the family to move.  Bisma is pretty religious and really studious and really sorry, but her father and most community people don't let it go.  Danyal thinks that is stupid, one mistake shouldn't haunt her forever, unfortunately he doesn't think chivalry and pity are enough of a reason to marry her as he doesn't think they are meant for each other.  Basically, he is still really crushing on Kaval.  So he and Bisma decide to be friends.

When Danyal's history teacher in a fit of spite nominates Danyal for a prestigious Renaissance Man competition, Danyal calls on Bisma for help.  The topic is Winston Churchill, the beloved British leader, but Danyal quickly learns he is not beloved by most Indian subcontinent people.  Kaval offers to help so that Danyal can win the competition, impress her parents and then maybe give them a chance.  But, suddenly Danyal doesn't know if that is what he wants.  He wants to be himself, he wants to be accepted, he wants Bisma.

WHY I LIKE IT:

You know how it is going to end, you don't know entirely how it is going to get there, but you know where it is headed, yet the book is still compelling and fun.  Between the banter of the religious friend, and the no longer religious friend, the advice the French Chef bestows on Danyal and Danyal's complete and utter cluelessness to everything, the book is really warm and the characters really like-able.  I dislike the stereotype of the "religious" character, but the other side characters are better developed.  

On occasion I think Danyal's stupidity is over done, he isn't an idiot, he just isn't book smart. So when he doesn't know what "break a leg" implies for example, it seems a tiny bit off.  I know his friends say he isn't funny, but I think he is hilarious, especially with his commentary on the Desi community.  "It is the curse of brown boys everywhere.  We either die young or we live long enough to see ourselves become uncles."

The role of Islam is incredibly prominent, and the characters understand what it means to be Muslim differently.  Sometime I agreed with them, sometimes I didn't, sometimes the characters didn't agree with each other, sometimes they did.  There is a lot to think about: destiny, Allah's mercy, Qalb-e-saleem (a pure heart), caring for the less fortunate.  Even politically there is a strong thread of colonialism, which the characters wrestle with and with being immigrant's children.   There is a lot packed in, but it flows so smooth and the writing rich with authenticity, that quite often I would laugh out loud and read various lines to my young children.

FLAGS:

Talk of sex and losing virginity, but not detailed, just stated.  The chef is a lesbian.  There is lots of language including the F word, not thrown in effortlessly, usually for a reason, and often reprimanded.  There are a few kisses on the cheek and lips between Danyal and Bisma, but in a Disney princess movie sort of way.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

Not for middle or even high school book club. I don't think that it is a completely "halal" romance story, but I think I wouldn't be concerned if juniors and seniors were reading it, I think they would love it, and I might just have a few that I want to suggest it to...

I absolutely LOVED this book! I've been in a YA romance slump and this is just what I needed!

This is about Danyal who isn't the brightest pea in the pod. He's muslim and his parents are quite conservative and don't approve of his dream of going to culinary school... the food in this all sounds so good. His parents are trying to set him up with. a "good muslim girl." however, he thinks he's in love with Kaval, a girl who's super beautiful and smart and "out of his league." anyways, she thinks she's better than him and never really paid attention to him because everyone thinks he's stupid.
his parents try and set him up with a beautiful, smart girl, who comes from a good family. immediately he wonders why her parents would even think of giving their daughter to him for marriage, but then he finds out that she's "damaged." Bisma just broke my heart. she's so sweet and so kind and deserved so much love, and I hated everyone who hurt her.
they end up having a friendship and she helps him with the renaissance man which he was chosen for. it's like this project that only super smart people get chosen for, but his teacher chose him kind of out of spite. anyways, she helps him study, and soon he realizes he actually likes her!
their romance is so sweet and fun and funny and I found myself smiling and laughing throughout this entire book! 100% recommend!

3.5 stars

I thought that this was such an adorable book. Right before reading this I had just DNFd my first book in years and this really brought my spirits up.

I can't really speak on the representation in this book because I am not familiar with Muslim customs. However, I am really glad that we're starting to see more diverse books being put out. Danyal and Bisma were such lovable characters. Sure, Danyal said some questionable things, but his charisma really won me over.

The first half of this book was pretty slow but I liked getting to know the characters so I didn't really mind. The plot only really begins at the 50 percent mark and that's when I started to become really invested in the story.

I was also really surprised to find myself intrigued with the Churchill storyline. I'm not a big fan of history but Syed M. Masood wrote about it in such a captivating way and I was moved by Danyal's commitment to his beliefs.

Overall, this was a really good book and I would definitely recommend it!

This book is, in a word, annoying. Annoying, because what could've been a diverse, dynamic, and iconic representation of Muslim teenagers became a cheap, cliche, and disrespectful story towards its own characters. Other reviewers have pointed this out, so I won't harp on it too much, but the only representation of religion in this book is either Old People (antiquated, conservative, old-fashioned, repressed) or Young Zealots (even more boring, even more intense, even more repressed.) Islam is trivialized, joked about, and treated with no respect, and the only younger characters who expressed devotion or interest in their faith traditions are characterized as boring, unlikable, or generally Bad. The teenager who takes an interest in going to the Mosque is presented as someone who needs to 'lighten up' or change as if being religious is an inherently bad thing. Again, it should be noted that I'm not a Muslim, but I'm echoing sentiments that I found in reviewers from Muslim readers, and given how many seem to be irritated at this treatment of their faith, I think my criticisms are valid. As a religious person myself, albeit a Christian, it does make me sad to see how few portrayals there are in mainstream YA literature of funny, creative, pop-culture-obsessed, sporty, queer, disabled, or otherwise "real" religious teenagers, who are progressive, independent thinkers, and more than just a stereotype. Don't get me wrong - I understand where people are coming from with their critiques of religion, and I don't want to police any author's depictions of their own faith or culture. I just wish we had teenagers in YA of ALL different religions whose religion wasn't treated as a joke, or something they had to "overcome."

This book is super funny, cute and addictive. The story follows Danyal Jilani, a boy who’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, and Kaval, this book is amazing and great for any YA reader

Wow, what a great read!
I loved every bit of this book, it can do no wrong. The explanation of what Pakistani culture and the Muslim religion mean to teenagers now was perfect. It showed how things have adapted, but also the traditions that are the same. I knew nothing of the culture before and I feel like I've been given a crash course in the basics. Danyal is relatable, he's not great at school and wants a different future than his parents are pushing him toward. He's a great friend and tries to balance respect for his family with his desires.

Danyal's relationship with Bisma is adorable. At first, he's kind of shallow and can't see past the surface, but as they spend time together and she doesn't judge him, he starts to mature and realize that who a person is matters most.

This is funny, sweet, sad, and an enjoyable read. I didn't want to put it down and I can't wait for this to be released to the world!

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a YA contemporary romance that dealt mainly with four Muslim teens. Even though the plot was somewhat predicable, the author did a great job of making the themes standout by using a not so common culture. Well written and paced.

This book was a really fun read that had interesting and more serious themes. Something I really liked about this book is how informational/educational it is. I really liked learning about a culture I am not super familiar with. I liked learning about historical events and also learning about the dynamics between Muslim families and friends. This was one of the reasons I gave this 4 stars. It had a lot of YA romance "fluff" and cute moments but a lot of the book was super educational for non-Muslims like myself.

I really liked most of the characters in the book. Danyal was a great character and I liked being able to see how dedicated he was to his thesis. He wanted to tell a side of the story that doesn't get told. Another thing I liked about Danyal was his kindness to Bisma and her sister. He was so nice to both of them. I also loved how passionate he was about cooking and wanting to own his own restaurant some day.

Bisma was another character that I loved. She was strong, smart, and cared about helping Danyal. She has gone through some unimaginable situations and I really felt for her throughout parts of this book. Her younger sister was also a lovely addition to the book.

One last thing I really liked was how the entire book was from Danyal's POV. I don't think I have ever read a YA Romance book from entirely a male POV and I really liked it.

More Than Just a Pretty Face is one of the best and most engaging YAs I’ve read in awhile. The narrator’s voice immediately draws you in. There were moments when I laughed out loud and others when I sobbed. This book truly is the best of both worlds. I feel it will appeal to a wide variety of readers, particularly male YA readers who tend to have limited choices. I highly recommend this book!

On the surface, this is a gentle contemporary love story with sly humor and delicious descriptions of food. As the story unfolds, you realize that, like the MC, it's so much more: a respectful depiction of a modern teenager living his religious faith; a history lesson; a testament to the power of individual goodness, and taking a stand against injustice. A moving and memorable read!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

More Than Just a Pretty Face was a pretty cute book and it was also an eye opener. Mostly because of how people view one another and how they might love one another. It's definitely a beauty on the inside vs. the outside kind of book. Even if people were viewed as beautiful or handsome they still had to somewhat prove that they were more than just a pretty face. Even if it took them a while to figure out how to do so.

In it, you will meet Danyal and Bisma. Both are kind of seen as fucks up from their own family. Danyal has dreams of being a chef due to his love of cooking. There's just the small tidbit of him not being completely amazing at school. Nothing really held his interest except for a girl named Kaval.

Ugh, Kaval.. she was not my cup of tea. She really annoyed me with how shallow she was throughout this book. I'm glad that Danyal figured out that she and he just weren't meant to be. Even if it took him a freaking long ass time to do so. That being said, him and Bisma were completely adorable and shippable. I loved them so much and it didn't bother me about Bisma's past.

Luckily for her, he didn't really either. Yeah, it was a shock at first but they started off as friends. Then everything eventually developed on a deeper level for them and it was just really cute to watch all of that happening. In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I'm really happy that he became someone that everyone could look up to and be proud of. Especially his dad.

2.5/5

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the overall plot but certain parts just didn’t resonate with me. 

I’ll start with the positives. I have been trying to read more books with Muslim representation and this is one of the few books where the characters felt like “normal” Muslims (at least based on my experiences as a Muslim in western society) to me. There were characters of different levels of religiosity and that seemed believable to me.

Another thing I really enjoyed was that Bisma and Danyal supported each other. Bisma was the only one who believed in Danyal and encouraged him to succeed and Danyal supported Bisma and accepted that her past mistakes do not define her. 

The discussion of Winston Churchill and the negative impacts of British colonialism on India was also great. I always appreciate when YA fiction novels can find a way to educate readers on important issues.

Unfortunately, there were a few things that didn’t work for me:
- Danyal‘s “voice” did not seem authentic to a 19 year old. He said things that seem immature for his age and it was not believable to me. For example, he referred to someone as a “jerk face” at one point.
- Danyal was portrayed as unrealistically unintelligent at some points. There were things he did not know or understand that were unrealistic for someone his age. He didn’t even know what the phrase “break a leg” means???
- The book also tried to explain some Muslim practices but it just did not explain it in a way that was accurate or correct at all. For example, Danyal explains that arranged marriage is basically a contract so that the couple can have sex. I can’t even start with how inaccurate that is. My only explanation for this is that it was meant to be from the perspective of a 19-year-old guy but I can see this explanation being very confusing for non-Muslims who know little about the religion.